What shape is an overweight dog

How to Tell If Your Dog Is in Shape Or Overweight

If your pooch is looking a bit more pudgy than usual, its actually quite common. The battle of the bulge isnt just something people face so do pets. In fact, according to a 2018 survey conducted by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention,55.8 percent of dogs in the United Statesare overweight or obese. And that extra weight can cause a lot ofhealth issues for your dog, includingcanine diabetes, heart problems, and painful arthritis.

Wondering how to tell if your dog is fat or overweight and needs to lose a few pounds? Read on to examine the signs you can look for to determine whether or not your dog is fat and how you can get your pup into shape to stay healthy and happy for years to come.

Check Your Dogs Body Shape

One of the simplest ways todetermine if your dog is fatis to look at the body shape. Looking at your dog from above, if you notice that the pup looks rather rotund and oval-shaped, its likely that your dog is fat. If, on the other hand, you notice that your dog has a defined waist toward the rear and a straight build down the sides, then theyre probably at a healthy weight.

Feel for Your Dogs Ribs

The feel and prominence of your dogs ribs are a major indicator of weight issues, says Dr. Sara Ochoa, DVM, a veterinary advisor forDogLaband practitioner atWhitehouse Veterinary Animal Hospitalin Whitehouse, Texas. If your dogs ribs arent extremely prominent and you can easily feel them without having to press hard, then the dog is fit, she says. For overweight dogs, its very difficult to feel their ribs because there is too much fat in the way.

Look at Your Dog From the Side

Asagging waistor swinging stomach is another tell-tale sign of a fat dog. When viewing your dog from the side, look for a waist that is slightly raised rather than simply hanging down and oval-shaped. A dogs abdomen should not be the same level as the chest and should be tucked up, says Dr. Ochoa.

Check Your Dog for Fat Pads

Excess fat on your dogs body is also a major indicator of being overweight. Some animals will have fat sacks between their legs that will waddle when they walk, says Dr. Ochoa. She also recommends inspecting your dogs hips during petting sessions. Overweight dogs will have fat pads on the top of their hips.

Examine Your Dogs Behavior

Overweight and obese dogs are typically inactive and spend a lot of time scarfing down their food. If you notice that your dog has become a couch potato, has trouble walking, exhibits trouble breathing when walking, and generally appears to have trouble moving about, they might be fat. Also, if youfree-choice feed your dogthroughout the day, this can encourage obesity.

Weigh Your Dog

The best way to tell if your dog is overweight or obese is with a weigh-in at your veterinarian. Your vet can then tell you whether your dog is overweight according to yourdogs size and breed. Remember that a healthy weight will look different for every breed. For example, most sighthounds should have visible ribs.

They will also examine your dogs body and compare it to abody condition score chart, which ranks a dogs body type by shape. Typically, scores range from one to nine, with one being very underweight and nine being extremely overweight. The target body condition usually lies in between, around four to five.

Consider the Health Effects of Being Overweight

While having a portly pup may seem adorable, those extra pounds can pack quite the punch when it comes todogs developing obesity-related health issues. Overweight dogs can develop a number of serious health conditions, including:

• Diabetes.
• Skin problems.
• Heart problems.
• Joint problems.
• Kidney disease.
• Canine arthritis.
• Certain cancers.
• Liver problems.
• Mobility issues.
• Breathing problems.
• High blood pressure.

Carrying extra weight is especially hard onbreeds like dachshundsbecause they can develop back problems andchubby brachycephalic dog breedsmay experience trouble breathing. Large dog breeds may even developcanine orthopedic issues, especially when theyre still growing, if they become overweight.

Canine obesity-related health issuescan cause long-term problems for dogs and can shave years off your pups life. Fortunately, by losing weight, your pooch can avoid or even reverse many of these conditions.

Develop a Dog Weight Loss Plan

If your veterinarian determines that your dog is overweight, youll have to start a weight-loss plan. The two things to target are reducing calorie intake and increasing the amount of time youexercise your dog.

Encourage yourdog to exerciseby going on 10 to 15 minute walks each day to start, recommends Dr. Ochoa. Gradually increase the amount of time you spend walking your dog per day and the briskness of the walks toup to 2 hours total each day, depending on your dogs breed and age, according to the Peoples Dispensary for Sick Animals. Most importantly, make the walks fun by praising your dog for being active and rewarding your pup with lots of attention. You can also sign your pooch up for acanine agility class as part of an exercise routine.

If agility isnt the right fit for your dog, there are many other AKC Sports that can provide fun and exercise for you and your pup.

With the help of your veterinarian, develop a calorie and portion-control weight loss plan for your dog. Just decreasing the amount of food your dog eats per day by about 10 percent will help your pet lose weight, says Dr. Ochoa. Your vet can also recommend a high-fiber, lower-calorie food for your pup that will keep them feeling fuller for longer.

Once you know just how much to feed your dog each day, divide your pups meals into a morning and evening portion. This way, your dog wont become hungry later in the day.

Most importantly, keep treats to a minimum, says Dr. Ochoa. Treats and cookies have added calories. By decreasing the amount of treats given or totally eliminating them from their diet will help your dog lose weight, she recommends. You can also supplement your dogs diet with healthy, low-calorie snacks like steamed or rawvegetables that are safe for dogslike celery, carrots, green beans, broccoli, and cucumbers.

8 Ways to Help Your Overweight Dog

Most of the time, its a joy to share things with our dogs. Unfortunately, we share bad habits, too. It turns out our dogs are just as prone to one of our most common health problems obesity.

A few extra pounds on your pup can have serious health implications, putting your dog at risk of experiencing a wide range of diseases and conditions, including a reduced life expectancy. Added weight can also impact your dogs quality of life by affecting their mobility, energy for play, and overall mood.

As in humans, we now recognize obesity as the most important medical disease that affects our companion animals, says Dr. Alex German of the University of Liverpool/Royal Canin Weight Management Clinic.

Talk to your veterinarian for information and guidance when it comes to your dogs diet and potential weight-loss plan. In the meantime, here are eight ways you can start to help your overweight dog.

1. Know Your Dogs Healthy Weight

Different breeds and ages have different healthy weight ranges. Check what the AKC breed standard says about the ideal weight for your breed. If your dog is beyond that range, consult your vet. Its best to get a professionals help as you assess your pets accurate weight, body condition, and diet, determine if the dog would benefit from a weight-loss plan, and set a target weight to work toward.

Note that some dogs may be shorter or taller than their breed standard requirements, so the ideal weight would be within those dogs breed standard height descriptions.

2. Keep Your Dog Active

Just like humans, exercise is crucial when it comes to helping your overweight dog get healthy. Increasing your dogs activity helps burn off energy (and calories consumed).

Dont panic! Exercising your pet doesnt have to mean running marathons or going for long hikes. Regular walks and the chance to run and play in a safe off-leash environment are good forms of exercise for your dog. Participating in AKC FIT DOG is a great way for you to get moving with your pet.

Even creating a stimulating indoor environment that gets your dog moving can help. Remember, different breeds need different amounts of exercise, so consult your vet, breeder, or your dogs breed standard for guidance on how much activity is recommended.

3. Know the Difference Between Begging and Hunger

Begging is not always about wanting more to eat. In fact, its often a ploy to get more attention. (And, when its rewarded, you reinforce and encourage the behavior to continue.) If your dog begs, dont assume that theyre hungry. Trust your instincts and keep track of when the last mealtime was.

If your dog is prone to begging and youre prone to giving in to those puppy dog eyes, talk to your vet about a high-protein diet with a blend of fibers to help manage your dogs appetite and reduce their voluntary food intake. That way, you can feed your dog while knowing that they will feel fuller and stay satisfied longer.

4. Limit Treats and Table Scraps

Even when our dogs dont beg, many of us volunteer too many treats and table scraps. Dogs dont need to share everything we eat. Think of treats and scraps for your pet as you would candy for children to help you keep them to a minimum.

If you use treats for training, look for low-calorie, low-fat options and limit the amount. As an alternative, remember that clickers work great for reinforcement, and theyve got zero calories! After all, a few extra pounds can make a huge difference for dogs, who are much smaller than we are. (Even those large breeds!) So, concentrate on a healthy diet, and curb the urge to treat them with more.

5. Measure and Monitor

Once your vet has designed a weight-management plan, you should have a clear idea of how much your dog should eat at each meal. Be vigilant. Dont free-feed or eyeball how much you scoop out. Instead, use an appropriate measuring device to ensure youre managing portion control.

6. Customize Your Dogs Diet

Not all weight-loss foods are created equal, so its important to match your dog with a nutrition plan that directly addresses their specific needs. Look for a brand that offers dog food designed for your pets own issues, whether its weight management, sensitive stomachs, or something else entirely.

7. Dont Go Cold Turkey

No, this isnt about feeding your dog leftovers. Its important to ease your dog into a new diet, rather than abruptly changing what they eat. Always consult with your vet before starting your dog on a new regimen. A good guideline is to plan for at least a seven-day transition when starting a new type of food. Heres what that could look like:

• On the first two days, feed your dog 75% of their old food and 25% of the new food.
• On the third and fourth days, increase the percentage of new food to 50%, with the other 50% being the old food.
• On the fifth and sixth days, feed your dog 75% of the new food, and 25% of the old food.
• By the seventh day, you should be up to 100% of the new food.

8. Stick With It

Like human, like pet! Studies have shown that after successfully losing weight, approximately half of all dogs regained weight. The good news is that researchers also found that rebound weight gain was significantly reduced by keeping dogs on a weight-loss diet, even after achieving their target weight. So, now that youve done the hard work and transitioned to a new formula thats working, stick with it! As with so many things in our dogs worlds, consistency is the key.